February 2019 babies. The third trimester: it's all starting to feel very real now!

[maxiflump1]

Here we are again ladies with another new thread..... maybe some of these babies may make an appearance on this one!

Thank you @Since2016 - I had two good feeds with dd - the first one and a random one at about 10 days old but both were with really good support. We do have NCT nearby so will definitely be making use of those this time. I've also got friends who have successfully bf who would help if they could.

@Eyedontknow shots of gaviscon. 😂 pregnancy is so glamorous isn't it?

Hi all, I have to go in for a CST tomorrow and was wondering if anyone else has had one before?

Thanks everyone - will think about it all again nearer the time! Problem now is my flipping back! What do you do when your back goes and you have a 2yo you're supposed to look after??? Xx

@thesnobbymiddleclassone that makes sense, I'm still trying to convince myself and bump that she won't be late. I would have liked to have more time after but actually really looking forward to having some leave to myself first. @since2016 sounds like a good idea to give your toddler lots of love before the new arrival.

@yakadee poor thing! Paracetamol, heat and trying to keep moving with gentle stretching or getting on the yoga ball is pretty much all you can do.

@Yakadee I think CBeebies and stickers are probably your friend if your back has gone. Hope it doesn't last too long. Have you got anyone nearby who could help with your toddler for part of the day?

@lanalawr I honestly think peer support is one of the best things. I was v lucky last time and had a friend from NCT and a good friend who was due days apart from me who both BF. So much easier to check what’s normal / feel comfortable in the early days. Good luck!

@yakadee - yep CBeebies. Mine has been a lot better since that awful few days the other week, but trying to get DD from nursery and then to bed was sheer agony x

@sickmumma can I join the Facebook group please?

@costacoffeecup it's @MrsY87 that can add you! If you PM her.

@yakadee a bumper sticker book and some paper! My DD is 5 and still loves creating pictures from stickers!

Thanks everyone - thankfully it's not as bad this morning so I can get about. I need to do a little shop so think I'll manage but will take it easy.

I slept so bad last night, it wasn't even my back! I slept great until 2am and then congestion, an awake (but happy) 2yo, a stupid fox screaming outside - what!!!! Lol. I didn't get back to sleep until after 5:30/6!

Can you tell I'm feeling sorry for myself? Thank goodness I'm not back at work yet! Hope you're all ok xx

lanalawr I found the BF support at the Heath rubbish too. I left less than 36 hours after DS was born, him having barely fed at all. Our first night at home involved me being up for hours on end with him wanting to be held but I couldn't get him to feed. No surprise he'd lost 12% weight by day 3! The midwives/HV who came to the house weren't much help either, when it came to helping me BF.

I'm going to try and be a bit more assertive in getting some help at the hospital this time, which is easier when it's your second!

@detachablehoof yup it was meant for you - total baby brain going on here 😆

@Lookingforadvice123 that's actually made me feel loads better that it's not just me. I'm sorry you found the support awful too though. While we were in, their idea of helping was just to stick dd on me and leave rather than help me learn. They also told me that five minute feeds were fine (I didn't know any different) so dd lost a lot of weight too. The bf support woman who came to the house (Marlene) still works in the area because my midwife mentioned her the other day. I really disliked her and she made judgements on me and wrote them in my notes within five minutes of meeting me. I wish I'd been strong enough to stand up to her. I know there's non-NHS support in Whitchurch so I'm planning to use that and the NHS support and hopefully will have a better chance of succeeding this time.

I'm glad it's made you feel better lanalawr! Such a shame as the majority of the midwives I met in the hospital were great but the ones who were designated for BF, not so much!

I lived in Cardiff West when I had DS so will make a note of that name - Marlene - in case she comes to see me! It's so hard with your first as you don't know what you're doing in any area, at least this time round we'll feel more confident with the overall parenting side of it.

I think I'll definitely try a support group, if you find a good one let me know!

Is anyone taking raspberry leaf tea? Someone mentioned it to me the other day about how it's meant to be beneficial?

@Bluelagoon25 I heard it's meant to bring on labour though it's probably another old wives tale.

@thesnobbymiddleclassone

I have asked our antenatal class teacher and she said it can be taken from 34weeks and can help tone the uterus which may help in labour...

Around here we have la leche legue & home start who will both come out to you if you need you as well as regular group meetings etc.

There are also several local breast feeding classes for the area. And fb support groups etc.

But we have bf support in the hospital and one to one midwives that will come visit you at home.

So I am feeling confident if I need support it is there.

I have my breast feeding class at hospital booked for the end of Jan so trying to move it forward as think it maybe too late then.

Been reading the womanly art of breast feeding by la leche legue, the food of love, positive breast feeding book (by the positive birth company) & the NCT book of breast feeding.

But tbh they all say pretty much the same so taking with a pinch of salt and just going to give it a go and see how get on. But would reccomend any of them.

@Bluelagoon25 I did drink it last time (can't remember when from) and ate a stupid number of pineapples. Dd was still a week late. I don't think it did anything other than make me feel like I was trying something.

@Bluelagoon25 my Grandma reckons it stopped her tearing, although I suspect there's no science behind that.

For those wanting to give it a try, there's always perineum massage. We tried it for my son, I didn't tear but did not an episiotomy so not sure she if it actually worked but people swear by it xx

@Yakadee I bought some oil to give that a go. The only down side is I cant bloody reach 😂 feeling very very very pregnant 🐳

@Notquiteagandt - that's why I said 'we' and by 'we' I meant, my hubby.

It was a funny experience really as towards the end I was really rather swollen down there and my hubby did not enjoy it like he thought he might lol x

Kellymom is also a v good source of info.

I tried pineapple, dates, bouncing on a ball and raspberry leaf tea - and numerous sweeps. DD was 6 days late and labour didn’t start till 40+3. But at least I felt like I was doing something!

Has anyone else’s belly button gone really dark? I had a belly piercing that I took out early on in pregnancy and now there’s a dark patch around the hole left and inside my belly button is the same. Is this part of the linea negra thing?